Hello There!
Hope everyone is enjoying a few days off from work this week as we all celebrate Thanksgiving. This is our 2nd Thanksgiving in Chad. Much has changed for us over the course of the past 12 months. This year we are on our own as both of our teamates and their families left earlier this year. Last year we had duck for dinner. This year, Lasagna.
In many ways we are still just learning the ropes around here. Language is still difficult. The culture is still "different" and at times difficult to understand. The weather can be a challenge especially during the rainy season. But, we are also "old pros" when it comes to things like dealing with sickness, running the Welcome Center, and going to town. None of these things, though, would've been possible without the countless prayers and notes and letters of encouragement we've received in the last 12 months.
While we do feel far away at times we've never, not once, felt alone. That's not only because our God is here with us, but also because you are too. We serve Him as best we can for we represent Him to our friends and neighbors. And, we represent our Church, as well.
Sometimes I ask myself, "Knowing what I know now would I do it all over again?" My answer is always the same. "Yes, a thousand times yes!"
His Word tells us to surrender everything to Him. Easier said than done. Perhaps the late Jim Elliot's words can help us all gain some perspective on doing His will in our lives: He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
sf
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Thursday, November 26, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Neighborhood and other pictures
Neighbors!
Lovin' Hudson
Gracey getting her hair done
Can you guess who this is?
Birthday dinner out.
nice fence Steven!
Cute little Tawnee Dawn
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Hello there!!!
Today was a crazy day. Even now, Janice and most of the girls are not here.
The day started out fairly normal but took a strange turn at about 10:00 this morning when Janice and the kids' language teacher up and walked out because she got mad at Payton for telling her to use their book to teach the Arabic. (It is the curriculum book that was given to us to use by her "boss".) She lasted a whole 4 sessions before she threw in the towel. Very bizarre.
Then, Janice made 2 trips to the hospital that's not too far from here. One of the neighbor kids - he's only a couple months old - is really sick so she took the mom and a few other family members to the hospital with her. Here, like in France, food and clothing isn't supplied by the hospital so Janice made a second trip there with food and other 'essentials' so that everyone could have a reasonably comfortable night.
Then, at about 7 o'clock Janice and the older girls went to the airport to pick up one of our employees who had been in Gabon for the last 3 months. After that, they were planning on running back here, dropping her off (she lives in our neighborhood), and then driving to a local restaurant for a girls night out. One problem: the car quit right outside our gate just after dropping her off. So, at about 8:45 PM we were finally able to get the car parked in our yard and after grabbing another car, off they went. It's now just after nine PM. Only Payton, me, and Ethan are up. Both fellas are doing math right now. I'm hoping to play Payton a game of football when he is finished.
Hope you all have a great day.
Today was a crazy day. Even now, Janice and most of the girls are not here.
The day started out fairly normal but took a strange turn at about 10:00 this morning when Janice and the kids' language teacher up and walked out because she got mad at Payton for telling her to use their book to teach the Arabic. (It is the curriculum book that was given to us to use by her "boss".) She lasted a whole 4 sessions before she threw in the towel. Very bizarre.
Then, Janice made 2 trips to the hospital that's not too far from here. One of the neighbor kids - he's only a couple months old - is really sick so she took the mom and a few other family members to the hospital with her. Here, like in France, food and clothing isn't supplied by the hospital so Janice made a second trip there with food and other 'essentials' so that everyone could have a reasonably comfortable night.
Then, at about 7 o'clock Janice and the older girls went to the airport to pick up one of our employees who had been in Gabon for the last 3 months. After that, they were planning on running back here, dropping her off (she lives in our neighborhood), and then driving to a local restaurant for a girls night out. One problem: the car quit right outside our gate just after dropping her off. So, at about 8:45 PM we were finally able to get the car parked in our yard and after grabbing another car, off they went. It's now just after nine PM. Only Payton, me, and Ethan are up. Both fellas are doing math right now. I'm hoping to play Payton a game of football when he is finished.
Hope you all have a great day.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Monday, 9 November 2009
Hey y'all...
Hope your week is off to a great start.
We had a nice weekend. Janice and I spent all day Saturday at a local hotel that lets non-guests use their pool. So, we lounged by the pool, read a little, slept a little, talked a bunch, and swam a little. For lunch, it's "obligatoire" (required) that the pool users purchase the buffet lunch. Wow, it was really good. Had all kinds of choices.
At the end of the day, we went out to dinner at a local chinese restaurant. We had a great time. While at dinner, we realized that this was the first time in over 2 years for us to "take a day" just for ourselves. It was a total blessing.
At dinner, we talked with Janice's mom on the phone. She asked what we were doing. I told her that I spent the day at the pool with a sexy woman in a bathing suit. She said, "Was Janice with you?" Ah, Judy, you are so very, very funny. I laughed. Janice was duly unimpressed by her mother's comment.
When we got home the house was clean and showed no obvious signs of wear and tear. So, a good day indeed.
Hope you all have a great week.
sf
Hope your week is off to a great start.
We had a nice weekend. Janice and I spent all day Saturday at a local hotel that lets non-guests use their pool. So, we lounged by the pool, read a little, slept a little, talked a bunch, and swam a little. For lunch, it's "obligatoire" (required) that the pool users purchase the buffet lunch. Wow, it was really good. Had all kinds of choices.
At the end of the day, we went out to dinner at a local chinese restaurant. We had a great time. While at dinner, we realized that this was the first time in over 2 years for us to "take a day" just for ourselves. It was a total blessing.
At dinner, we talked with Janice's mom on the phone. She asked what we were doing. I told her that I spent the day at the pool with a sexy woman in a bathing suit. She said, "Was Janice with you?" Ah, Judy, you are so very, very funny. I laughed. Janice was duly unimpressed by her mother's comment.
When we got home the house was clean and showed no obvious signs of wear and tear. So, a good day indeed.
Hope you all have a great week.
sf
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Well today was an interesting day. Started out moving batteries around so we could begin construction of an enlarged battery room. Then, at 9 AM Janice and most of the kids began their Arabic lessons. They are taking classes T-W-Th from 9 to 11. I watched the 4 youngest while they were doing their thing. I'm not taking the classes as I've deamed myself fit to learn only one language at a time. Besides, if Janice masters Arabic we will make quite a team. I can speak the French and she can speak the Arabic. We'll have to go everywhere together!
While I was playing with the younger kids, Esther told me that her arm hurt. I asked her what the problem was and she said that her arm had Malaria. I said, "Are you sure?" She said, "Yes, daddy, my arm has Malaria!". Too cute.
Ethan's not feeling well. High temp, headache, soar throat, body tingling. So, Janice has got him on some drugs. We're praying for him.
Hope things are going well for you all. No worries here.
sf
While I was playing with the younger kids, Esther told me that her arm hurt. I asked her what the problem was and she said that her arm had Malaria. I said, "Are you sure?" She said, "Yes, daddy, my arm has Malaria!". Too cute.
Ethan's not feeling well. High temp, headache, soar throat, body tingling. So, Janice has got him on some drugs. We're praying for him.
Hope things are going well for you all. No worries here.
sf
Monday, November 2, 2009
Addendum - Monday, 2 November 2009
Simply one of the most asstounding articles I have ever read. Unbelievable.
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=28544
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=28544
Monday, 2 November 2009
Well now, it's been a while since my last post. Sorry about that. Been rather busy and our internet has been sporadic of late too.
We've really settled into a nice little routine of late. Every night the older kids spend a couple hours after dinner outside playing with and talking with the neighbor kids. It is amazing how fast they are learning Chadian Arabic, especially Payton and Gracey. And, tonight, Payton even threw in some Mondong too. Seems he's been listening to our workers when they are speaking their tribal language. Unbelievable!
Our carpenter has been very busy lately as Janice has him making all kinds of furniture for the Welcome Center. She's got such a great eye for what a room needs. Lots of neat touches!
We also have a couple of guests who will be staying for 1 year (or more). That's a blessing since we'll generate that income for at least 12 months.
Janice has been relatively healthy for quite some time. I say "relatively" because she is still suffering from things like colds and stomache problems. But, for the most part, everything's been good.
On the other hand, Liddy is still suffering from periodic bouts of pain in her chest and fatigue. When she feels this way Janice gives her some Tylenol and then she crashes for a couple of hours.
Generator's been running great and the batteries (if we cut power to major electricity users) have been giving us a good 5 hours of juice per day.
So, nothing to complain about (except I could really go for a Slurpee!)
Hope you all have a great week.
sf
We've really settled into a nice little routine of late. Every night the older kids spend a couple hours after dinner outside playing with and talking with the neighbor kids. It is amazing how fast they are learning Chadian Arabic, especially Payton and Gracey. And, tonight, Payton even threw in some Mondong too. Seems he's been listening to our workers when they are speaking their tribal language. Unbelievable!
Our carpenter has been very busy lately as Janice has him making all kinds of furniture for the Welcome Center. She's got such a great eye for what a room needs. Lots of neat touches!
We also have a couple of guests who will be staying for 1 year (or more). That's a blessing since we'll generate that income for at least 12 months.
Janice has been relatively healthy for quite some time. I say "relatively" because she is still suffering from things like colds and stomache problems. But, for the most part, everything's been good.
On the other hand, Liddy is still suffering from periodic bouts of pain in her chest and fatigue. When she feels this way Janice gives her some Tylenol and then she crashes for a couple of hours.
Generator's been running great and the batteries (if we cut power to major electricity users) have been giving us a good 5 hours of juice per day.
So, nothing to complain about (except I could really go for a Slurpee!)
Hope you all have a great week.
sf
More pictures from last May or before.
Tawnee and Esther.
Esther
Keepin' Cool!
Tough Love?!
Emma & Ethan
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